#americanblogger

it’s been such an exciting day around here. celebrating Stevo’s birthday + then Chris Wiegand pulling up in his airstream to film for #americanblogger! thanks for all the birthday wishes for my main man + sweet words for me too! Tomorrow Stevo will be sharing his “anybody” story about his water awareness walks. I can’t wait 😉

it’s pretty amazing what God started orchestrating 11 years ago. He can use anything and in this case, He can use my relationship with my “big sis” in my sorority in college to help mentor and guide me in this thing I call blog land. Casey Wiegand is probably more now my “big sis” than she was then, she has mentored me and encouraged me and most of the time she doesn’t even know it. She tells her story so beautifully and I have loved following along on her blog [and her in real life!]. Her and Chris are following their dreams. They are both supporting their family, living their life, and chasing their dreams and I couldn’t be more proud!

Today, Chris paid me a visit in Midland, Texas. Yall, NO ONE “drives through” Midland to visit. unless of coarse you are coming to or from California. which Chris was, how convenient. It was an absolute honor to be part of this film! Casey has been so kind + has given me so many amazing opportunities to tell my story, the story GOD gave to me. That’s all I’m doing – living HIS story. Anyway, Chris and Casey have such beautiful hearts and I can’t wait to see where this project goes. First off, the airstream is amazing. Secondly, Chris was so fun and easy to be around. He wanted to know all about west Texas, and I tried my best to explain to him the workings of the oil field. I even showed him some pump jacks 🙂 [never did I think I’d even know what that was…..]

It got me to reflect on this space, and how much it’s meant to me over the years. My old blogger blog was started 5+ years ago when we moved to Midland. Just to keep people updated on what we were doing “way out here” [please, don’t look back on those posts….I have no clue what’s even there] then it turned more into a “adoption blog” and that really was the biggest blessing as we went through our adoption process. That’s how I met Lauren + many many other amazing adoptive mamas that I now call friends. Right before the kids got home, my girl Chloe threw out a big challenge. She told me I couldn’t just post pictures of me & my kids at the park once they were home – this blog + our story had given me a voice, and she challenged me on how I was going to use it.

That same weekend God gave me the idea of my “anybody” series. The notion that ANYBODY can change the world.

Anybody can live missionally & make a change in the world right where they are. changing the world means loving with abandon, really seeing people, telling the story god has written for you, and loving + living big.

life is real, messy and beautiful at the same time. It is meant to be lived in community. We were meant to tell our stories because they encourage, affirm and keep each other accountable.

A passion of mine is telling the story god has written for me, not just telling the story but inviting people into the story.

I strive to be real, raw and transparent.

I love telling my story because I love connecting with people. (if you haven’t yet, read & respond to this post)

They fuel my energy, they encourage and challenge me to live a better story.

So far, I’ve told 17 stories of anybodies who are changing the world. read about them here.

So now, this blog. this place. as I told Chris this morning, is a place where stories are told, hope is given, and the firm belief that anybody can change the world is spoken.

So, if you are new here! WELCOME! I am so glad you are here.

I hope this place encourages you, I hope it challenges you, and I hope it helps you see that you too can DREAM. and you CAN change the world!

I hope you can see, through our story, that God’s plans are ALWAYS much better than our own.

ashley, whatever! YOU are so cute!!! yes yes yes!! she said tonight that she’s free friday night or sat! we get in friday & I think the thing is over by 9 ish — maybe we could all meet up after yalls kiddos are in bed?!?!